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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fachad on March 27, 2002, at 8:36:41
Zo wrote: There's just something about Klono that actually improves cognition for those who don't get ADD-hung over, like me. . .and most don't.
So what do you mean by "ADD Hung-Over"?I have ADHoD (Attention Deficit Hypo-Activity Disorder). Pstims help both the Attention Deficit and the Hypo-Activity. (Yes, I made up that diagnosis, but dammit, that's what I have!) And I have had several major depressive episodes, and chronic dysthimia, both of which are helped by SSRIs and pstims.
I'm all for improving cognition, but really my only objective for taking a benzo is to sleep thru the night, without inducing obesity (TCAs) or poverty (Ambien) in the process.
So is Klonopin overkill, and will it aggravate my hypo-activity? Is that what you mean by ADD hung-over?
I am really fishing for subjective impressions rather than scientific information on the differences between benzos.
If you've taken a number of benzos, which one(s) have that "knock-out" quality of Ambien?
Thanks,
fachad
Posted by Hattree on March 27, 2002, at 10:17:54
In reply to ZO - What is ADD Hung-Over (and other questions), posted by fachad on March 27, 2002, at 8:36:41
Fits me, too. Although you might qualify for ADD, inattentive type, also.
Posted by fachad on March 27, 2002, at 10:33:01
In reply to Re: ADHoD--love your creative diagnosis! » fachad, posted by Hattree on March 27, 2002, at 10:17:54
Yes, "ADD - Inattentive Type" is my "official" diagnosis.
I just think ADHoD is a more accurate description of my symptoms and behaviors.
> Fits me, too. Although you might qualify for ADD, inattentive type, also.
Posted by Katalina on March 27, 2002, at 12:35:39
In reply to ZO - What is ADD Hung-Over (and other questions), posted by fachad on March 27, 2002, at 8:36:41
Only my second time posting, but wanted to comment.
I'm ADD inattentive and have been on 75 mgs. Effexor XR and Adderall 20 in the a.m., 10 in the p.m. for the past few months. I was doing great & loving life until a month ago when I noticed a tolerance building towards the Adderall and feeling a little more jittery than normal. I asked my neuro for Klonopin and I started taking either .5 or 1.0 mgs. at night before bed. Talk about a sedative! I would hit the pillow and be out until I heard my 1.5 year old wake up, around 6 a.m. While I definitely don't feel hungover I feel like I could continue sleeping for hours and it takes everything in me to get out of bed, I am just so tired and comfortable. Within an hour and 2 cups of coffee I feel fine though.
I stopped taking the klono 2 days ago, just because I don't think I necessary NEED it. I was sleeping o.k. most nights, just sometimes having a hard time falling right back to sleep if I were to wake up in the middle of the night. I just don't want to abuse it if I don't have to. I have a propensity for popping pills just because "I can".
ANYWAY, just wanted to let you know my experience. The Klonopin worked better than anything I've ever taken for sleep (for me, much better than Ambien) and it didn't make me feel like I was in a fog the next day. It could be a cheap alternative for you?
Katalina
Posted by fachad on March 27, 2002, at 19:18:16
In reply to Re: ZO - What is ADD Hung-Over (and other questions), posted by Katalina on March 27, 2002, at 12:35:39
Katalina,
Thanks so much for posting. Did you have insomnia before you started the Klonopin?
I'm really intrigued by "The Klonopin Mystique", but my main concern is that it won't be powerful enough to overcome my insomnia.
I'm also a little concerned about the possibility of it causing depression or cognitive degradation. Both of those have been reported to be caused by benzos, especially ones that build up in your system like Klonopin.
Have you tried any other benzos, or just Ambien and Klonopin?
> Only my second time posting, but wanted to comment.
>
> I'm ADD inattentive and have been on 75 mgs. Effexor XR and Adderall 20 in the a.m., 10 in the p.m. for the past few months. I was doing great & loving life until a month ago when I noticed a tolerance building towards the Adderall and feeling a little more jittery than normal. I asked my neuro for Klonopin and I started taking either .5 or 1.0 mgs. at night before bed. Talk about a sedative! I would hit the pillow and be out until I heard my 1.5 year old wake up, around 6 a.m. While I definitely don't feel hungover I feel like I could continue sleeping for hours and it takes everything in me to get out of bed, I am just so tired and comfortable. Within an hour and 2 cups of coffee I feel fine though.
>
> I stopped taking the klono 2 days ago, just because I don't think I necessary NEED it. I was sleeping o.k. most nights, just sometimes having a hard time falling right back to sleep if I were to wake up in the middle of the night. I just don't want to abuse it if I don't have to. I have a propensity for popping pills just because "I can".
>
> ANYWAY, just wanted to let you know my experience. The Klonopin worked better than anything I've ever taken for sleep (for me, much better than Ambien) and it didn't make me feel like I was in a fog the next day. It could be a cheap alternative for you?
>
> Katalina
Posted by Zo on March 28, 2002, at 7:55:40
In reply to ZO - What is ADD Hung-Over (and other questions), posted by fachad on March 27, 2002, at 8:36:41
That's a riot, cuz for me, Ambein was like nothing. Zip. Nada.
Yeah, Klonopin always left me kinda stupid the next day, even though its effect would be excellent at night. I cleared it slower than any other benzo.
Now that I'm on Lamictal, I take my 2 Ativan, get into bed, lie down, and. . .whoa, it's the next day! Niiiice.
Klonopin might not be overkill for *you.* But it does last thru the night, unlike most of the others.
Anything generic. . Lorazepam is soooo cheap. Maybe $10 for 60 pieces, or was it 90. It's the new meds that cost an arm and ridiculous leg. Let's see, there's generic Klonopin, there's Tamazepam (Restoril) which people think of as a time-limited "sleeping pill" but we know it's just another benzo. You MUST take two, however, or don't bother to take any. It's pretty knock-out, and pretty clean the next morning. Pdoc says anything that doesn't clear in half an hour in the a.m. is not your drug. . .
More?
Zo
Posted by Zo on March 28, 2002, at 7:58:59
In reply to Re: ZO - What is ADD Hung-Over (and other questions) » Katalina, posted by fachad on March 27, 2002, at 19:18:16
> I'm really intrigued by "The Klonopin Mystique", but my main concern is that it won't be powerful enough to overcome my insomnia.
Try Restori/tamezepam, then. It's pure sleep.
> I'm also a little concerned about the possibility of it causing depression or cognitive degradation. Both of those have been reported to be caused by benzos, especially ones that build up in your system like Klonopin.
Haven't seen it happen. Who reported it?
Posted by fachad on March 28, 2002, at 8:58:33
In reply to Re: ADHoD - love it » fachad, posted by Zo on March 28, 2002, at 7:55:40
Wow, for me Temazepam is like nothing. And I'm talking two 15mg pills. I could take it in the morning, skip my Dex, and have a fine day. Couldn’t tell it from a sugar pill.
I'm just wondering what it means that temazepam was so ineffective for me. Does it mean my GABA receptors are shot from taking Ambien too long? Or that my metabolism just chews up and spits out benzos? Maybe I need Dalamane. It's supposed to last like 250 hours or something!
For you, does Ativan or Klonopin have a stronger "knock out" effect?
Have you ever tried estazolam (ProSom)?
Thanks.
P.S. I think that all of the benzos are generic, meaning dirt-cheap.
> That's a riot, cuz for me, Ambein was like nothing. Zip. Nada.
>
> Yeah, Klonopin always left me kinda stupid the next day, even though its effect would be excellent at night. I cleared it slower than any other benzo.
>
> Now that I'm on Lamictal, I take my 2 Ativan, get into bed, lie down, and. . .whoa, it's the next day! Niiiice.
>
> Klonopin might not be overkill for *you.* But it does last thru the night, unlike most of the others.
>
> Anything generic. . Lorazepam is soooo cheap. Maybe $10 for 60 pieces, or was it 90. It's the new meds that cost an arm and ridiculous leg. Let's see, there's generic Klonopin, there's Tamazepam (Restoril) which people think of as a time-limited "sleeping pill" but we know it's just another benzo. You MUST take two, however, or don't bother to take any. It's pretty knock-out, and pretty clean the next morning. Pdoc says anything that doesn't clear in half an hour in the a.m. is not your drug. . .
>
> More?
> Zo
Posted by Katalina on March 28, 2002, at 12:05:08
In reply to Re: ZO - What is ADD Hung-Over (and other questions) » Katalina, posted by fachad on March 27, 2002, at 19:18:16
Fachad,
I've only been taking the Klonopin for a month and only at night (.5 mgs). I think at low doses, the depression and cognitive issues should be unlikely. If I wasn't taking the Effexor and Adderall, it could be an issue, but on the Adderall I am so much happier and motivated, I think it would take 10 mgs. of Klonopin to lower it.
I've had sporadic problems with insomnia, nothing debilitating, just intermittent bouts of not being able to sleep for more than an hour at a time for a week or so. I also have two small children who sometimes wake frequently and then after settling them I have trouble falling back asleep and then before you know it it's time to get up! The Klonopin has really helped with sleeping like a rock. I hit the pillow and unless I hear a child crying I don't wake up to use the bathroom or anything (which was very uncommon before). I know benzos aren't first line insomnia meds and it's likely to stop working, but I do like having a bottle on my medicine shelf just in case. After a stressful day, it's nice to pop one and veg out in front of the t.v. and not feel so stressed out. I don't think I have the kind of anxiety that warrants regular benzo use, but they definitely take the edge off.
To answer your other question, I took Valium for a short time for sleep and Klonopin is much better than that. I've only taken Ambien a few times and it really didn't do much for me unless I tripled the dose.
I hope I answered your questions. I hesitate too sometimes to take the Klonopin thinking I'm negating the positive affects of the Adderall, but my neuro said it can work synergystically for a lot of people. The question is "does it last?"
Take care. . .
Katalina
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